What steps are involved when designing a bioenergy strategy? Who needs to be involved? How does it fit and synergize with other national objectives? These are just a tiny reflection of the host of questions that decision makers should ask when developing a bioenergy strategy. What is evident is that - opportunities and risks must be assessed and risk mitigation approaches designed as appropriate. This section guides the reader through the step by step process it takes to build a robust and sustainable national strategy that creates opportunities and reduces impacts. It introduces the main concepts, and those concepts are later explored in depth in the subsequent sections.

Below is an illustration of the bioenergy strategy tree which will be discussed in the following section: